video; un: LSKennedy

[makingthetime]

[Good—uh, morning? Evening?—day to you, Trench. Were you possibly in need of someone's new pet prodding around with their Omni? If you weren't, too bad, because now there's an Oshawott clearly playing with her new trainer's Omni, experimenting with it the way a rather bright kid would, and also giving a close view of the inside of Leon's place: a sparsely-decorated living room that doesn't have very many personal touches, but does have a stack of library books open on the table, with an open notebook, a page half-filled with Leon's handwriting.

Leon's legs come into view first, as the Oshawott is trying to figure out the best angle on the device to take a video from. His wry voice comes in from off-screen:] At this rate, I'm going to have to get you your own device, if you're going to keep using mine to take pictures.

[Then Leon bends down, taking the Omni from his Oshawott's grasp, and says:] Oh, you figured out how to record a video? Smart of you, Barbra.

[Out of frame, Barbra the Oshawott coos at the praise.]

Right. [Leon looks into the camera now.] I might as well. Anyone on the network know what she is? She showed up in my apartment a little after I left the catacombs last month, and I've been looking after her ever since. I'd appreciate the help—my best guess is that she's a sea otter of some kind, but as you might be able to tell, she's a little too brightly-colored to be any kind of otter I know of.

Also, when I tried to baby-proof my place so she wouldn't hurt herself, she did this.

[And he shows the remains of the baby gate he'd put up at the base of the stairs. It's been cut neatly in half, and the culprit doesn't even look guilty about it, just hops onto the first stair with a smug air to her movements.]

So I ruled out "sea otter" pretty quickly. Which leaves me back at square one, on figuring out just what she is.

[A pause.]

Oh, I also wanted to ask: I haven't seen daylight since April started. It's a little concerning—should I be even more worried?

Comments

video | un: Pierrot

[violetlies]

For your first question...I've got no idea what she is but she's one of the most adorable things I've ever seen. Good luck with her.

For the second, uh. Yeah. Be worried.
From what I've heard?
You should be super worried. Get essentials and stay indoors. It's gonna be bad news out there for the rest of April.

video; un: LSKennedy

[makingthetime]

Thanks. I'm gonna need it, seeing as she cut a baby gate in half. That shell's sharper than it looks.

[Barbra has No Regrets. Indeed, she looks like she is absolutely willing to do it again if he ever puts up another baby gate.]

Whatever happened to spring showers, huh? [When it rains, it pours in Trench, though, so this is really just Leon kvetching a little.] Wonder if I ought to expect blood pouring out of the walls.

[violetlies]

Jeez. Just don't make her mad? Neeheehee.

[And to that, Kokichi shrugs.] Careful what you ask for here, pal. Spring showers could be real dangerous. But blood or mysterious ooze coming out of the walls ain't outta the question.

Nothing is, really. Expect the unexpected in Trench. As usual.

[Audio][UN: A_Wesker013]

[subject_013]

[Of course Wesker would chime in at a time like this, though he keeps his face hidden.]

For the former, I regret that I haven't a clue, though they remind me a little of the odd little creatures who turned up in Deerington in September of the year I dwelt there.

But the latter? I'd make sure to have plenty of food, water and other necessaries in your lodgings. If April is the parallel to October in Deerington, things may get rough out there, and they already have. We've had more than the usual cases of Corruption and victims of Beast attacks turn up at the Lumenarium. I'd be careful going out without back-up if I were you - though then again, I'm not you.

audio; un: LSKennedy

[makingthetime]

[Leon also keeps his face hidden, which is great, because then Wesker doesn't have to see the face he pulls when he hears the man's voice. He's gotten used to Wesker's presence here, but he still doesn't entirely trust him. Still, he's a useful resource.]

What were those little animals like? Anything off about them? Did they eat anything unusual? [He's pretty sure Barbra's fine with the usual diet for otters, but she isn't an otter, she might need something else outside that diet. Jesus, there ought to be a vet somewhere around here.]

I'm a hunter. Kind of my job to go out. But I get your point, I'll stick with company as much as possible. [As for food and water:] I have enough to last me a couple of months. With another mouth in the house, it'll be a month before I'll have to make another grocery run.

Which district's getting hit most by Corruption?

Re: audio; un: LSKennedy

[subject_013]

The ones that turned up in September? They were as endearing as these, but they had a spookier affect to them, though more classic Halloween than horror movie style. I knew someone who had a creature that looked like a pumpkin jack o'lantern with a cat perched within it. The cat used to growl at me. [He says this with a note of amusement. Growing more serious, he continues.] I believe they eat, more or less the same things as their more realistic counterparts. You'll be looking for fish and especially sea urchins for your new companion.

Still fighting the good fight? It wouldn't be off the mark, in this place. Beasts and BOWs can be strangely similar. I trust you've found a partner to cover your six?

[An in-breath.] Hrrrmm... Lumenwood and Gaze are the most prone to Corruption, but it's been widespread this month. The perpetual spring twilight may be contributing to it, but I suspect there's something in the gloom that's triggering it.

video; un: lookingforshinsengumi

[tealeafs]

[ Does Chizuru know what Pokémon are? Of course not. She may be from Japan, but not nearly enough from a modern enough time to actually know about the entire thing..

But that creature is still doubtlessly adorable, even if it's also apparently capable of slicing things up. The latter has never stopped Chizuru from thinking the former though, and so she can't help but reply, perhaps hoping to catch a glimpse more of the adorable being. ]

I'm not sure what she is, sir, but.. it does seem like most odd little creatures have been appearing around town for the past week or so, from what I have seen.

video; un: LSKennedy

[makingthetime]

I'm starting to think nobody's got a clue. My closest guess is she's some kind of otter, but even I can see it's off-base. Sea otters don't generally cut things in half.

[Barbra is somehow radiating even more smug vibes, if that's even possible. Leon gives her a look, but she just grins up at him. Eventually, he just sighs.]

What kind of odd little creatures?

[tealeafs]

Oh, you haven't seen?

[ Chizuru doesn't sound like she's judging him for not having noticed though. God knows this entire network situation is very, very new to her, so she's not going to judge anyone else for not having seen something either on here or on the streets...

Instead she hums for a moment, like she's trying to think of the best example before talking up again. ]

You see, sir, someone I know.. she's got one of those little creatures too. Except that one doesn't look like an otter, the way yours does. Instead it looks like.. [ .. Chizuru's voice trails off, sounding a little more unsure now. It's not like she knows modern ice cream cones, so. You know. That's the main problem here. ] She says it looks like 'ice cream', if you have heard of that before at all? Except it is alive!

[ It sounds totally ridiculous, yes.

Yet Chizuru sounds so sincere as she talks. Like she can't be lying. ]

[imaglyphwitch]

OOOH! IT'S SO CUTE!

[Looks, its Luz, and anything otter related is going to have her dissolving into the cuties. That's just a fact].

Really interesting colors though. Kinda reminds me of this game on Earth from Japan, where you train these pocket sized monsters and stuff. But they wouldn't bring them here I don't think...?

video; un: LSKennedy

[makingthetime]

Think they call that Pocket Monsters? I don't know. Haven't kept up with video games in—god, a long time.

[A helpless little shrug.]

Weirder things have been brought here than little monster pets. Or whatever Barbra is. I wouldn't put it past whatever brings us here to drop 'em off, and hey—at least she's friendly. [Pointedly, towards Barbra:] If too confident she won't get herself hurt.

Re: video; un: LSKennedy

[imaglyphwitch]

Pokemon for short. If you want to be all normy about it.

That is a good point! And she's such a lil' cutie!

Does she have any specific abilities you've noticed?

Video; UN: SweetDee

[agiantbird]

[That creature is one of the weirdest things that Dee has ever seen. Admittedly, Barbra is pretty cute despite looking like a living plush toy. She's a badass too, judging by what she's done to the baby gate.]

I don't know what she is, but does this place have Instagram? I mean, you could set up one of those pet accounts for her, gain a ton of followers, and possibly get yourself some free shit. Just an idea.

[Dee, no.]

video; un: LSKennedy

[makingthetime]

I actually don't know. Even if it didn't, I wouldn't have one—too much maintenance. [He's combed through social media accounts a few times, and Instagram has always struck him as way too much effort for him.] I don't know the first thing about gaining followers.

[Barbra makes a deeply tragic face right behind Leon's legs. You see what she's been stuck with?]

I'm really just asking because I'm trying to figure out what not to feed her. I know sea otters eat clams and snails and sometimes fish, so that's what I've been getting her, but she's not actually an otter. I might be missing something important in her diet.

[agiantbird]

[Dee flashes Barbra a sympathetic look and gives her a little wave. She sees you, poor thing. It's a pity the guy seems too busy to take advantage of social media because the otter-creature could be a star, and he could make bank just by posting cute pictures of her. A missed opportunity!]

Right. Yeah. You don't want to go feeding her something that might hurt her or make her sick. Has she been eating those other things okay?

Video UN: Dawnknight

[searingwing]

The sun is a problem. And no rumors I've heard so far tell me much.

[As for the little friend. He visibly studies the remains of the baby gate.]

It seems everyone got some kind of gift after the jungle and catacombs. I received two items after my time in both.

[He moves the journal in front of him and writes something down. Then peers at the Omni again.] Prehaps you can ask Barbara to be more careful? It can't hurt to ask.

[makingthetime]

Sometimes there's a little nugget of truth in rumors.

[A pause.] You didn't get something like her, did you? [Please help me, I have no idea what I'm doing.]

She's—well. She's capable of more than I realized, you're right about that. [Kneeling down and turning the camera on Barbra, who seems to preen when she sees the Omni's turned on her.] Hey. Can you promise me you'll be careful and you're not going to climb the stairs on your own?

[Barbra seems to digest this for a minute, mulling this over. Then, with great deliberation and the air of someone who doesn't give a shit what Leon thinks, she hauls herself up on the second step.

Leon, behind the camera, heaves a long sigh.]

[searingwing]

[He studies her with a thoughtful air. He pours a bit of water into a mug as he says,] I didn’t. But I did convince a nightmare horse outside town not to attack me.

It seems like a different story. [One is a murder horse that will gladly eat meat. The other an otter.] Prehaps you should go with her up the stairs. Give her a look at all of it. Then she might get bored with it.

[Its not fun if it’s not forbidden.]

video: un; makes.it.count

[everyrosehasits]

[Rose is dressed for all elements, wearing boot-cut jeans with black leather combat boots, her hair pulled back in a severe ponytail, and a simple crew-neck sweater]

So far, no one has come forward with any real ideas, just paranoia and perplexing theorem. However, as a Paleblood, this environment suits me fine.

Though, it stands to reason that a similar period of sunlight will come eventually.

video;

[makingthetime]

It's not paranoia if they're really out to get you. [He says it wryly, with a hint of self-deprecation, like he knows what that says about him.] I'm a vileblood. This? Is just messing with my sleep schedule, and that's already fucked enough.

[A month with no night? Sounds hellish.]

What I have been getting, from people who've been through something like this, is that this has the potential to get much, much worse. I'm already hearing about higher levels of corruption and more beast attacks.

video;

[everyrosehasits]

I suppose so. Are they really out to get you? [she hasn't heard that phrase before and is taking it at face value] Surely there's got to be a way to help? I'm--I'm sure this sounds like nonsense, but you could turn on all of the lights in your home before you're ready to sleep?

[but also inevitable]

Beasts as in already existing beasts or those who used to be one of us?

video; UN: childe

[monoceroscaeli]

Haha, I see we've got the same problem. I'm just as clueless as you are on the matter.

[The video shows him sitting on his couch in his apartment, his Omni clearly set up on a table in front of him so Leon can get a clear view of him. Childe's face looks as confused as Leon must feel about his new partner.]

Did your new...friend show up in one of these?

[He holds the ball up in front of the camera.]

video;

[makingthetime]

You'd think with just how many of us are there from all these different worlds, someone would know what they are.

[Alas, Leon's video-game expertise begins and ends with Bejeweled and Candy Crush.]

She did, yeah. Don't know how she fits in that thing, though, it's tinier than she is. [And she just barely comes up to his knees already.] I figured it was too cramped for her, so I just stashed it away. And given what she can do, [RIP baby gate] I imagine if I tried to stick her in a cage she'd just break it.

What'd you get?

text; un: R.BECKET

[righthemisphere]

Bud that is a pokemon.

text

[makingthetime]

That's the Japanese video game, right? Yeah, you probably have a better idea what they are than I do. What am I supposed to feed her?